Leak or condensation?

Drops on a skylight in January aren't always a leak. Warm, damp air from a kitchen or bath hits the cold glass and turns to water, then runs down the shaft. Here's how to tell them apart:

You see	It's probably
Water on the inside of the glass on cold mornings, dry by afternoon	Condensation
Fog between the two panes	A failed glass seal
Stains on the drywall at the top corners of the shaft after rain	A flashing leak
Drips only when snow melts	Ice backing up above the skylight

Condensation needs better ventilation in the room. The other three are roof work.

Why skylights leak

A skylight is a hole in the roof with a box around it. The flashing that wraps that box has to send water around it from above. Leaks come from caulk used in place of a real flashing kit, step flashing that's rusted, shingles nailed through the flashing, or a skylight set where snow piles up behind it. When we install one, we use the skylight maker's own flashing kit and ice and water shield around the curb.

Fixed, venting or tubular

A fixed skylight doesn't open. It's the least expensive and the easiest to seal.
A venting skylight opens to let out heat and moisture, which helps in a bathroom or kitchen. Many open with a remote and close on their own when rain hits a sensor.
A tubular skylight is a small dome on the roof with a reflective tube that carries light to a hallway or closet, with no big opening in the ceiling.

What skylights cost in Fort Wayne

Installing a skylight costs $1,014 to $2,828 for most homeowners, about $1,920 on average nationally. A small fixed unit can come in near $450 and a large venting one past $5,000. Repairs run $454 to $1,514, about $961 on average.

Job	Typical cost
New skylight, installed	$1,014 to $2,828
Skylight repair or reflash	$454 to $1,514
Swapping a skylight during a new roof	Less labor than a separate trip, since the shingles are already off

If your skylight is more than 20 years old and you're getting a new roof, replace the skylight at the same time. Pulling it out later means cutting into a new roof.

Skylight questions

Can an old skylight be removed and roofed over?

Yes. We frame the opening, deck it, shingle it to match and patch the ceiling inside, so the room just loses the light from that spot.

Do I need a permit for a new skylight?

Often, yes. Cutting rafters or making an opening larger is structural work, and that needs a permit. Swapping a skylight for one the same size usually doesn't change the framing.